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Building the Low Altitude Economy (LAE) with 5G Advanced and 6G

As mobile networks expand into new vertical domains, the low altitude economy (LAE) is emerging as one of the most promising frontiers for connectivity. In China and Hong Kong, this area is rapidly evolving with strong government support, early infrastructure deployments and growing commercial interest. It includes services and applications that operate in airspace typically below one thousand metres, covering everything from drone deliveries and infrastructure inspections to emergency response and environmental monitoring.

The LAE is not just a collection of novel use cases. It represents a structural shift in how connectivity infrastructure is being designed and deployed. A layered approach is taking shape, combining reuse of existing terrestrial networks, new network deployments tailored for low altitude operation, and integration with non terrestrial networks such as satellites. Together, these networks are already delivering coverage up to 600 metres with end to end latency under 100 milliseconds and uplink speeds beyond 25 Mbps.

At the same time, high precision positioning has become a foundational capability. Ground based augmentation stations working alongside satellite navigation systems now enable dynamic centimetre level positioning. This level of precision is crucial for autonomous flight, obstacle avoidance, route planning and location specific services across a variety of sectors.

Cities across China have begun deploying municipal low altitude supervision platforms, while in Hong Kong, projects are under way to demonstrate short range drone logistics between buildings in complex urban environments. One notable example involves the delivery of medical documents and supplies across a hospital campus, significantly reducing transport time and increasing reliability. Other projects are helping to modernise traditional industries such as oyster farming, providing real time monitoring and efficient delivery in remote coastal areas.

As the industry looks towards 6G, three key technology pillars are expected to play a central role in supporting low altitude services. The first is ubiquitous connectivity, combining terrestrial, aerial and satellite systems into a seamless and intelligent communication fabric. The second is integrated sensing and communication, where unmanned aerial systems can detect, track and avoid other objects in real time. The third is the integration of artificial intelligence and communication, enabling autonomous flight, adaptive routing and intelligent service orchestration.

Regulators in the region are taking proactive steps to create enabling environments. In Hong Kong, efforts include the allocation of spectrum for low altitude services, development of new licensing frameworks and participation in cross sector working groups to shape safety and operational standards. These initiatives aim to provide regulatory clarity while encouraging innovation and public trust.

The low altitude economy is also a platform for collaboration across government, industry and academia. Its development involves not only network operators but also manufacturers, logistics providers, software developers and civil aviation authorities. The combined outcome is a multidimensional ecosystem that blends technology, policy and market readiness.

With its strong policy backing and technical leadership, the low altitude economy in China and Hong Kong is setting an example for what can be achieved when communication infrastructure expands into the vertical domain. As 5G Advanced gains traction and 6G moves from research to reality, this airspace just above our cities is becoming a key testing ground for the future of connectivity.

At the 6G Global Summit 2025 which took place on 8 and 9 May in Hong Kong, the low altitude economy was one of the topics discussed during Session 8 titled 6G Futures – Interactive Insights and Emerging Use Cases. The video of the relevant part is embedded below:

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